- Wildfires in Los Angeles County have caused $250 billion in damages, and residents are defying evacuation orders to protect homes from looters.
- Over 50 arrests have been made for looting, with suspects using tools like window breakers and masks to steal from evacuated properties.
- Residents are organizing through WhatsApp groups and arming themselves due to a lack of police protection.
- In Altadena, armed "stayers" are guarding homes, offering aid to neighbors, and refusing to leave despite police checkpoints.
- The crisis echoes the 1992 L.A. riots, where armed self-defense became necessary when government resources were overwhelmed.
As wildfires ravage Los Angeles County, leaving devastation in their wake, some residents are refusing to leave their homes—not just to guard against flames, but to protect their property from looters. With police resources stretched thin and reports of brazen thefts rising, homeowners in evacuation zones are arming themselves and patrolling their neighborhoods, defying mandatory evacuation orders. The situation underscores a growing crisis: when government authorities are overwhelmed, citizens are taking security into their own hands.
The wildfires, which have caused an estimated $250 billion in damages, have also created an opportunity for criminals. Over 50 arrests have been made in connection with looting in evacuation zones, with suspects caught carrying tools like window breakers, masks, and stolen goods. In one chilling account, a resident described seeing "a hundred people on scooters trying to get into any and all houses" on their street.
Despite a curfew imposed by LA County Sheriff Robert Luna, who vowed to crack down on looters, many residents feel unprotected. Wealth-management firm president Ross Gerber, who has been sneaking into the evacuation zone to check on his home, told the Wall Street Journal, “I have no patience for any of [the police]. After you survive this, you don’t care what they say.” Gerber and his neighbors have organized through a WhatsApp group, which he says is "better than any government."
The Stayers: Armed and ready
In Altadena, a community hit hard by the fires, residents like EveAnna Manley are staying put, armed and vigilant. “I do have firearms, and I’ve been calling my friends to make sure I know how to legally exist with them,” Manley told KTLA 5. Her Starlink satellite internet receiver bears a blunt warning: “If You Are Lootin’ We Are Shootin’.”
Manley and others, who call themselves “the stayers,” are not only guarding against looters but also helping neighbors by offering showers, laundry, and hot meals. For many, leaving is not an option. Police checkpoints are turning away anyone trying to re-enter evacuation zones, leaving residents who leave with no way to return.
Aaron Lubeley, another Altadena resident, has been sleeping in his SUV near his fire-ravaged property, a 9mm handgun by his side. “It gives me a sense of value and purpose,” he told The Journal. His humor shines through even in the face of tragedy, as he jokes about his home’s new “open floor plan” after the fire.
A legacy of self-defense
This isn’t the first time Angelenos have taken up arms to protect their property. During the 1992 L.A. riots, Korean store owners famously defended their businesses from looters, earning the moniker “Rooftop Koreans.” Their legacy serves as a reminder of the importance of armed self-defense when government resources fall short.
As the fires continue to burn, the debate over evacuation orders and self-reliance intensifies. While authorities urge residents to leave for their safety, many argue that staying behind is the only way to safeguard their homes and communities. For now, the stayers remain on the frontlines, determined to protect what’s theirs.
